Chapter 3 The Process of Science: Studying Animal Behavior

Concept 3.1 Biologists study through observations and experiments Key Terms  Animal Behavior  Immediate Cause  Ultimate Cause

Asking Questions about Animal Behavior Why do whales make “bubble nets”?

Observing Behavior in Natural Environments Jane Goodall observed chimpanzees in their natural habitat

Designing Experiments on Animal Behavior Niko Tinbergen Digger Wasp

Immediate and Ultimate Causes of Behavior Immediate Cause  Immediate interactions with the environment  Explains “How?” Ultimate Cause  Explanations based on evolutionary characteristics  Explains “Why?”

Concept 3.2 Experiments show that both genes and environment affect behavior. Key Terms  Innate behavior  Fixed action pattern  Circadian rhythm

Nature vs. Nurture Behavior is due to genes (NATURE) or environment (NURTURE)

Innate Behaviors Behavior performed correctly by all individuals of a species, even if they have no prior experience.  Nest Building  Web Weaving  Suckling

Fixed Action Pattern Greylag Goose  Egg Rolling Yawning

Rhythms of Behavior Circadian Rhythm  Biological clocks Jet Lag Migration

Concept 3.3 Learning is behavior based on experience. Key Terms  Learning  Habituation  Imprinting  Conditioning  Insight

Learning vs. Habituation Learning  Change in animals behavior resulting from experience Habituation  Animals learn NOT to respond to stimulus Hydra to touch Humans – ticking clocks, jewelry, etc Scarecrows

Benefits to Habituation? Animals do not waste time or energy on less important stimuli and instead focus on food, mates, or real danger

Imprinting Limited to a specific time frame  Critical learning period Often results in a strong bond between 2 organisms Konrad Lorenz

Conditioning Learning that a specific stimulus/response is linked to a reward/punishment  Classical Conditioning  Operant Conditioning

Classical Conditioning Otherwise associated with meaningless behavior Pavlov’s Dogs

Operant Conditioning Trial-and-Error Learning Animals learn that their behavior have a positive or negative effect

Insight Animals are able to respond to a new situation WITHOUT previous experience Ability to analyze problems and test solutions  Octopus + Jar  Chimp + Boxes & Banana

Play Behavior Practice Hypothesis  Animals practice behaviors that are required for survival Exercise Hypothesis  Play helps keep the animal’s cardiovascular and muscular systems in top condition

Concept 3.4 Social behaviors are important adaptations in many species. Key Terms  Aggressive behavior  Dominance heirarchy  Territory  Courtship ritual  Communication  Cooperation

Competitive Behaviors Animals sometimes live in social groups that compete for food, space, and mates  Aggressive Behavior  Dominance Hierarchies  Territorial Behavior

Aggressive Behavior Actual physical struggles Tests of strength (or the more determined) In most cases one individual stops threatening and submits to the other

Dominance Hierarchies Ranking from the most aggressive to least aggressive animal in the group Each animal has a specific location on the pecking order – that way they don’t waste energy fighting and instead have specific jobs based on their role in the group

Territorial Behavior Animals establish specific territories for themselves and protect it from other members of the same species  Fighting  Scents  Sounds Territories are used for breeding sites, places to raise young, as well as access to the best food sites

Courtship Behavior Elaborate rituals before mating to attract the “best” mate

Communication Different animals use a variety of ways to communicate within their species  Sounds  Odors  Visual displays  Touching

Cooperation Individuals work together in a way that is most beneficial to the group  Packs of Wolves  Musk Oxen